Tubridy visits Kingscourt school

Christmas came early for the pupils at St Joseph's NS in Kingscourt this week with the visit of a very special guest for storytime.

Self-professed book worm and now children’s author Ryan Tubridy visited the school after it’s students won a Christmas Schools competition run by Meath based company WillowWarm.

In their winning entry, the second class pupils put together an outstanding video documenting their efforts around sustainability and the environment, actively promoting the three Rs – 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle'- and other initiatives such as encouraging carpooling and ‘Walk to School Wednesdays’.

They also carried out a walkability audit for An Taisce to assess the best possible routes for walking to school, detailing unmaintained routes and obstructions on footpaths in order to present their findings to the county council.

Along with winning a storytelling session from the former The Late Late Show host, the students also claimed €1,000 for their school plus one tonne of WillowWarm briquettes for their teacher. The carbon-neutral, sustainably grown home fuel is produced in Balrath, Co Meath.

“What a great day of storytelling and sustainability we have had here in Kingscourt!” said Tubridy, who read from his own 'The first Christmas Jumper', with children receiving a signed copy each as well as a goodie bag.

Valerie Norton, second class teacher at St Joseph's, explained her students had the option of writing a story, drawing pictures, or doing a video on the theme of sustainability and the environment.

The school is currently working on achieving its ninth Green School flag, with Valerie taking the faculty lead. The flag they're working on focuses on the theme of Global Citizenship.

“The whole school recently went through a full energy retrofit last year,” says Valerie, adding that she might have even shed a tear when news came through that they had won the WillowWarm Christmas School's grand prize last Thursday.

“It was unbelievable, the excitement in the class was unreal. They were so excited. It was great because they did the work. It was really memorable.”

Tubridy arrived at the school on Monday morning - first to meet with second class pupils for his book reading and following that for a full assembly outside.

“The students of St Joseph’s really impressed us with their environmental efforts,” praised Tubridy, who also gave the whole school the night off homework.

“I think the future is in good hands with these bright sparks. The WillowWarm Christmas Schools competition is such a great way for me to reconnect with young people in Ireland who I love to chat to and encourage to read. I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and well done again to everyone who took part this year.”

The runners up were Scoil Chlochair Mhuire in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, who started a book club initiative for children in fifth and sixth class. The other was Limerick’s Gaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh, who sowed 300 native trees and installed fencing made from old, recycled pallets to protect the growing trees from stray footballs and other hazards.